Israelis largely welcomed a U.N. report that supported allegations of sexual violence during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack, even as tensions rise between Israel and the United Nations. The report, released on Monday, found evidence of sexual violence against multiple people in Israel and Gaza, sparking both praise and criticism from Israeli officials.
President Isaac Herzog of Israel praised the report for its “moral clarity and integrity,” while Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, accused U.N. Secretary General António Guterres of not taking decisive action in response to the findings. In protest, Israel recalled its representative to the United Nations for consultations.
Negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of hostages in Cairo ended without a breakthrough, with Hamas insisting on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Biden Administration has been pushing for an immediate cease-fire, putting the onus on Hamas to agree to the terms.
As the conflict continues, food shortages in Gaza have become more dire, prompting the United States to conduct a second round of aid airdrops into the territory. The U.N. has accused Israel of intentionally starving the Palestinian people in Gaza and targeting civilians seeking humanitarian aid.
The U.N. report, led by Pramila Patten, detailed challenges in investigating the sexual violence allegations, including limited time on the ground and the destruction of evidence. Despite these challenges, many in Israel welcomed the report as confirmation of the atrocities committed during the Oct. 7 attack.
Hamas has rejected the report’s findings, calling them false. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing families of the Israeli captives, urged the government to bring the hostages home, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a rising death toll among Gazans, with nearly 100 killed by Israeli forces in the previous 24 hours. The U.N. report serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict and the urgent need for a resolution to the violence.
